Month: November 2009

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN MEETS ARGENTINEAN ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN EDUARDO ERNEKIAN

armradio.am
25.11.2009 18:00

President Serzh Sargsyan today received famous Argentinean Armenian
businessman Eduardo Eurnekian, President’s Press Office reported.

Ernekian presented to the Armenian President the process of investment
programs in different spheres of economy. Eduardo Ernekian underlined
that the global crisis had in no way affected his programs in Armenia
and all the projects are in process.

Serzh Sargsyan attached importance to the completion of the
construction of a new complex of the "Zvartnots" airport in due time,
which will allow serving 3 million passengers annually in 2011.

President Sargsyan emphasized that Armenia encourages innovations and
fresh ideas in the field of agriculture, as well. "The implementation
of contemporary technologies, fresh approaches and new solutions in
the sphere of agriculture can lead to the development of other fields
and create a good basis for the overall development of rural regions,"
Serzh Sargsyan stressed.

PERSPECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT OF IHL TO BE DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
25.11.2009 18:10

On 26 and 27 November 2009 the Russian-Armenian University (RAU)
and the ICRC delegation in Armenia are jointly organizing in Yerevan
the International Scientific Students’ Conference "International
humanitarian law: problems and perspectives of development". This year,
the event hosted by the RAU is focused on the issue of responsibility
for violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

"The aim of the conference is to provide a forum for discussion on
contemporary challenges of IHL and to promote and stimulate a research
on the current developments in the field of IHL," said Nadya Kebir
Raoloson, head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia.

Through observation of international practice, the participants will
discuss the issues concerning the individual and state responsibility
for violations of IHL, as well as instruments of their repression
and punishment. "We value scientific and cultural aspects of this
conference", said Arman Dilanyan, Head of the International and
European Law Chair of the RAU. "Discussing IHL in a common forum,
participants from different countries contribute to the respect for
humanitarian values".

Postgraduate law students and young researchers from universities of
11 countries representing Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Iran and the UK
are participating in the Conference. National and international experts
on IHL will preside the five sections of the conference. Among them
are Jelena Plamenac, Lawyer at the International Criminal Tribunal
for Former Yugoslavia, Vahan Bournazian, Assistant Dean at the Law
Department of the American University of Armenia and Gleb Bogush,
Associate professor at the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology
of the Moscow State University.

EP SUPPORTS ALLOCATION OF 100M ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

armradio.am
25.11.2009 18:30

The European Parliament supported the allocation of macro-financial
assistance to Armenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Georgia. The relevant
decisions were approved by European Parliament at the Strasburg
session.

MPs approved 4 reports on allotting ~@100m assistance to Armenia
(~@65m – credit, ~@35m – grant), ~@200 m to Serbia (credit), ~@100m
assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina (credit) and ~@46m – to Georgia
(grant).

The corresponding decisions on coming into effect were supported by
the EU Council.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN MEETS WITH ARGENTINEAN BILLIONAIRE OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN EDUARDO EURNEKIAN

ArmInfo
2009-11-25 16:33:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has met with Argentinean
billionaire of Armenian origin Eduardo Eurnekian.

The press service of the President reports that Eurnekian told
Sargsyan about the investment programs he is implementing or is going
to implement in different sectors of the Armenian economy. He said
that the global crisis has not hindered them. Sargsyan pointed out
the importance of the construction of the new complex of Zvartnots
Airport. The new complex will be able to serve as many as 3,000,000
passengers a year. The President also pointed out the need to improve
the quality of postal service in both cities and rural areas.

He pointed out Eurnekian’s efforts in the field of agricultural
processing. Sargsyan said that Armenia supports the use of innovative
and fresh ideas in the field of agriculture. The use of modern
technologies and innovative solutions in agriculture will stimulate
other industries and will foster the complex development of rural
communities.

Eduardo Eurnekian is the owner of Converse Bank. His companies are the
concessionaires of the national post operator Haypost and Zvartnost
and Shirak airports. His Tierras de Armenia company owns 2,300 h of
agricultural lands.

‘ALO WE’ TARIFF PLAN SUBSCRIBERS CAN NOW COMMUNICATE WITH MUCH LOWER TARIFFS

ArmInfo
2009-11-25 17:25:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of "Mobile TeleSystems" OJSC,
is glad to inform that the subscribers of ‘Alo We’ tariff plan can
now make on net calls and send on net SMS at better tariffs.

Local calls Old tariffs New tariffs AMD/minute AMD/minute

Within "Alo We" tariff plan 15 15

To VivaCell-MTS 36 25
To RA other GSM and fixed networks 63 50
To 374 97 GSM and 374 47 fixed networks 60 50

SMS AMD/SMS AMD/SMS

To VivaCell-MTS 20 10
To other destinations 20 20

"We commit and we deliver having in mind our subscriber’s satisfaction
as a top priority. ‘Alo We’ subscribers can today benefit from the
tariff reduction to communicate more. Armenia’s leading mobile operator
has a lot more to give, just be ready for more," said VivaCell-MTS
General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile operator,
providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch
on 1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed
to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.

VivaCell-MTS drives the development and offering of innovative mobile
communications products, services and features in the Armenian mobile
communications market. For more information, visit

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator
in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 96.68 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as
well as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in
which MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide
GSM services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since
June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about MTS can
be found at

ECONOMIC CRISIS WILL NOT LEAD TO REDUCTION IN PENSIONS IN ARMENIA IN 2010

ArmInfo
2009-11-25 16:54:00

ArmInfo. Armenia’s national budget 2010 does not envisage reduction
in pensions and other social payments because of the economic crisis,
the head of the State Social Security Service Vazgen Khachikyan said
during a press-conference today.

The minimum pension will remain 8,000 AMD ($21) with the average
pension being 26,900 AMD.

Khachikyan says that in 2012 the average pension will be equal to the
minimum consumer basket – 37,000-38,000 AMD ($100). If in 2010 the
economic growth will be high, in 2011 the pension will be increased
so as to compensate for unscheduled growths.

Khachikyan says that no rise in pension will not lead to social
disadvantages as in 2009 inflation is not high. In the last three
years the pension has grown much quicker than the inflation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA ENCOURAGES INTRODUCTION OF INNOVATIONS AND NEW IDEAS TO AGRICULTURAL SPHERE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 25, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Well-known Argentinian Armenian
businessman Eduardo Ernekian at a November 25 meeting with RA
President Serzh Sargsyan presented the process of investment programs
implemented in various economic spheres and their plans for the
future. He emphasized that the difficulties caused by the global
economic crisis had no impact on Armenia’s economy on the part of
his programs, and implementation of all initiatives is underway.

S. Sargsyan attached importance to finishing completely the
construction work of Zvartnots airport’s new complex, which will give
a possibility from 2011 to serve over 3 million passengers annually,
as well as to proper implementation of the work envisaged in the
postal communication sphere.

According to RA President’s Press Office, S. Sargsyan attached special
importance to efforts and plans of the Argentinian Armenian businessman
aimed at development of farms and procession of agricultural
products. He noted that Armenia encourages introduction of innovations
and new ideas to the agricultural sphere. "Introduction of modern
technologies, new ideas and new solutions to the agricultural sphere
can lead to development of other spheres and will create good bases
for general development of rural communities," S. Sargsyan mentioned.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CALL-UP OF RA ARMED FORCES RESERVE FIRST GROUP MEDICAL STAFF OFFICERS TO BE HELD IN DECEMBER

Noyan Tapan
Nov 25, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 24, RA President Serzh
Sargsyan signed a decree on holding call-up and demobilization of RA
Armed Forces reserve first group medical staff officers.

According to RA President’s Press Office, in accordance with the
agreement, a call-up of officers below 35 of RA Armed Forces reserve
first group medical staff will be held in 2009 December, two years’
service term will be established. Medical staff officers having done
compulsory military service in the established term will be demobilized
in 2009 December.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HRAYR KARAPETIAN: ARMENIA IS CONCERNED WITH RELATIONS OF CSTO MEMBER COUNTRIES WITH AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
Nov 25, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Being CSTO member is in Armenia’s
interests but Armenian politicians are concerned with CSTO member
countries’ relations with Azerbaijan. RA NA ARFD faction member Hrayr
Karapetian stated at a November 25 press conference. He mentioned
that the RF and Azeri Defence Ministers have signed an agreement on
expansion of military cooperation lately. The ARFD figure said that
there was no need to sign such an agreement with a state which is
not a CSTO member and besides, constantly makes bellicose statements.

According to H. Karapetian, if Russia considers Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili an "unsteady figure" it can also treat the same
way Azeri President Ilham Aliyev who is known for aggressive attitude
to the Armenians.

Besides, as H. Karapetian added, Russia deepens its relations with
Turkey, which in the future can affect the activities of both NATO and
CSTO. In his words, the Russian-Turkish relations become closer while
Turkey is still a threat for Armenia’s security. In H. Karapetian’s
affirmation, the Turks continue implementing their old Pan-Turkist
plan. "That is why Turkey conditions its relations with one country
by a third country’s interests: a phenomenon which is not accepted
in international practice," the deputy mentioned.

According to H. Karapetian, Armenia’s other concern is that a number
of NATO member countries constantly arm Azerbaijan. In his words,
NATO’s leadership should not permit such a thing for the Armenia-NATO
partnership to expand, to develop and not to be formal.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDIAN TO VISIT JAPAN ON NOVEMBER 25-27

Noyan Tapan
Nov 25, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian will pay an official visit to Japan between November 25 to
27 where he will meet with crown prince Narohito, Foreign Minister
Katsuya Okada, as well as will have meetings at the parliament of
Japan and Japanese Foreign Trade Organization.

According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department, E. Nalbandian will give a speech at the Japan Institute
of International Affairs.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress